Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Kimmel.
Steven, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started in the oilfield, at the age of 18 in 1993. I was hired as a mud logger trainee, with Continental Laboratories, Inc. in Houston, Texas. For the next 10 years, I was a dedicated and well experienced hand, and my love for the oil & gas industry, drove me to be the best I could be, and I wanted to know everything about the drilling operation, and my learning never stopped. I had met a lot of people along the way, so I had a lot of friends, as well as contacts. My love for this life, led me to go to mud school in 2012. I paid my way, and used the company name of a sponsor. At that time, anyone that was accepted in to a mud school program, had to be employed by a chemical or drilling fluids company. Everyone kept telling me that a “large” mud company would pick me up and send me to school, but I was not having any luck. So, I spent my own money, and with the help of a sponsorship from a friend, I went to Mud Tech Laboratories in Houston, Texas. Getting that certificate would open many doors for me and my family. I got my first mud engineering job about April of 2012, with a consultant firm out of Evangeline, LA. For a year, I worked offshore, growing in the knowledge and science of drilling fluids, and clay chemistry. I will say that as all new engineers fresh out of mud school, I had a lot to learn. I made many mistakes, but that only made me better at what I was doing. I worked with many engineers that had 20+ years working as a drilling fluids engineer, and learned much of what I know today from these dedicated engineers.
The oil company I was assigned to, left the Gulf of Mexico in December of 2013. Because of this, I was basically unemployed, so I did everything in my power, to put out resume’s and make phone calls trying to get hired by another company. I was picked up by Newpark Drilling Fluids about mid-February or March of 2014. I stayed steady, but the pay wasn’t what I was used to making. This drove me to work for another consulting firm, which I eventually found one to become my home. The firm was Gordon Reed & Associates, out of Lafayette, LA. These guys have been really good to me, and kept me busy. I had always wanted to have my own consulting firm, or just work for myself, so in January 2017, after my divorce, I started SDK Engineering, LLC. It has been a journey, and I dedicate a lot of time to my business, but now it was a whole new journey. I am dedicated to stay busy with drilling fluids, and I also develop Windows based software programs, which I have recently leased some software. I aim to continue in the drilling fluids service, but in time, I am hoping to help others who have the same drive as I have, to follow their dreams, and provide drilling fluid engineering services to the oil & gas industry.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, not a smooth road at all. Most companies get started, with multiple partners or key personnel, and with the help of a loan company or bank to back them. I have done everything on my own, and out of my own pocket. It is quite expensive, but to me, the success of a company is how much time and dedication is involved. I feel that with the drive I have, and with the help of my contacts, SDK Engineering, LLC will become a very successful, independent small business. I want to be known for our integrity, knowledge, service, and vast experience in the oil & gas industry. I want to become a well known and requested company for supplying and/or providing drilling fluid engineers and mud logger consultants.
SDK Engineering – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
SDK Engineering, LLC is a small consultant firm, primarily focused on drilling fluids and drilling fluid engineering. I would like to eventually provide mud logger consultants, if I can get approval from mud logging companies. Approval meaning, that many mud logging companies don’t have enough personnel to keep up with the demand, so I want to agree on a rate and completed contract, to provide mud loggers to fill the void. Most companies want to hire on an hourly pay rate, making it hard to agree on a consultant fee. We provide software development services. I would like to provide more experienced mud engineers, also. As of now, we are primarily focused on drilling fluids, although, hoping to get in to the mud logging service over time. I have over 22 years in the oil & gas industry, and I’ve gained a very good reputation, and get many requests from oil companies, geologists, and drilling fluids supervisors. I have about 15 years in software development, using VBA and Visual Basic 6.0. I am dedicated to what I do, and want to provide as many dedicated, knowledgeable, and well-trained personnel, as the industry will allow. I want SDK Engineering to be the most recognized company to come to, when needing experience consultants. The greatest thing I can say that I am most proud of, is probably my dedication to make this company a success, and the integrity behind everything we do. I have been promised a lot, as I go through this industry, and I have found that the promises are only good if they benefit the one making the promise. I don’t want to be like that. When we say we are going to do something, or provide a certain service, we mean that. We are available 24/7, and I will not stop until this company is a success. As far as setting us apart from other consulting companies, we treat our consultants with respect, dignity, and provide all the necessary means for them to work for all the major companies in the oil & gas industry. We want them to stay busy, so the company stays busy. We also provide a service that most consultant companies don’t. We will go out to the job site, and visit with the engineer(s), and aid in every way possible to make them successful. We visit the clients frequently, and are involved in meetings, and conference calls. We are a step ahead and beyond many consultant companies. If no work is available or work is becoming slow, we won’t keep the consultant hanging on by a thread so they don’t leave. We are honest and will give all possible notice that their service may be coming to an end. I do not hope this on anyone, but as we all know, the oil & gas industry is always up and down.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
First, success is defined by how much time and work an individual is willing to put in for the gain of the success. In this case, it’s how much time I put in. Words can’t express enough how much time I’ve already dedicated in the last 6 months, to help those in the field, or for technical purposes. Second, success is also defined by attitude. If an individual has a positive attitude, smiles, and enjoys what they are doing, whether those consultants in the field, or a secretary doing paper work, then the “joy” of success is spreading. Sometimes, there are obstacles that we, as business owners, have to overcome, but we can’t stay grumpy. We are leaders. Let’s show those we are around, that no matter what we may be going through, or how much sleep we’ve lost, we are dedicated in the success of our company. I would say attitude best defines success.
Pricing:
- Drilling fluid consultants vary from $500/day to $900/day, depending on experience and industry rates.
- Mud logging consultants vary from $200/day to $450/day, depending on experience and industry rates.
- Hourly Software Development: $100-$250 depending on the depth of the project and timing.
- Daily Software Development: $500/day on average depending on the timing of the project.
- Custom Software Development: $10,000-$100,000 on average if SDK Engineering loses all leasing rights. This software is usually custom designed for the company, and the company retains all rights.
- Custom Software Development: $1.000-$10,000 on average if SDK Engineering retains all leasing rights to the software.
Contact Info:
- Address: 11306 Flying Geese Lane,
Tomball, TX 77375 - Website: http://www.sdkengineer.com
- Phone: 830.328.2511
- Email: steve.kimmel1975@gmail.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SDK_Engineering
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/16200746/
Image Credit:
Devin Kimmel
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
